But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods of your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. — Joshua 24:15 NIV
I just got back from Training Camp & I have NEVER in my life experienced anything so exciting & scary, so exhilarating & exhausting, so awesome & tough…. At the end of my 10 days, though, I can honestly say I am not just ready to go, but that I am already on the Race!
I have chosen my path, and I have never felt more peace. For my adulthood, I have claimed to be a Christian and to follow God, but let’s get real– I’m not a good follower. Yes, I accepted Jesus as real at 18. Yes, I recommitted my life & was baptized at 25. Now at 30, I choose to follow God. I will wake up each day & say, “God, this day I commit to You.” During the day, when I just am at a loss, I will say, “Still I follow God.” At night, I will say, “Thank you Lord.”
This is not just a choice to get me through the year, but an attitude shift for a lifetime. I will get under the will of God so that I can be over the things that God has placed under me. This is not the first time I’ve heard this. Years ago, the senior pastor of my church preached on authority issues which I think helps explain what this means to me. Think of an umbrella- it goes over you so that what is underneath is protected from the elements. God’s my umbrella & by getting under His authority, I will be protected and blessed. My pastor calls this being an “umbrella fella” or a “parasol princess.” I think I finally get it. When he preached on this topic of authority issues, it didn’t click. Big surprise to those of you that know me. But now, after camp, it makes sense. I have to CHOOSE to follow God.
So, I now pronounce myself a parasol princess ready for the race of a lifetime!
